#mamemaki

[kyotodreamtrips]

Today, I visited the Kitano Tenmangu shrine in Kyoto’s western district. By the time the setsubun play commenced, a sizable crowd had gathered around Kagura-den, the Sacred Music Hall. The entire event spanned nearly 45 minutes. It was an incredible experience.

[tanuki-kimono]

Happy Setsubun everyone!

Setsubun is a coming of Spring festival celebrated each 3rd of February with rituals meant to drive evil away. One of them is the mamemaki - throwing soybeans at people dressed up as a red or blue oni (Japanese ogre). Chasing those “demons” out of your home leave place for good fortune and Spring to set in :)

... yes the twin oni on this obi are indeed throwing beans themselves. That’s somehow pretty cute despite their angry apparences :)

[aishiteru-kenshin]

Setsubun Tradition: Mamemaki (Bean-Throwing)

On Setsubun, when evil spirits roam the streets and knock on your door, it’s time for desperate measures! Fill a Japanese cup called a masu with fortune beans (roasted soybeans). With the cup in your strong arm, bend your knees into a ready position. Ask the bravest family member to open the door on your count. 1, 2, 3, go! The moment that door rushes open, pushed by the force of a winter gale, with an evil spirit riding on that invisible wave, that’s when you give it a mouthful of beans. Toss that cup of roasted soybeans out through the door while screaming, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons, out! Good Fortune, in!”, 鬼は外! 福は内!). As you lunge forward into that demon-tainted wind, the beans clearing your path to safety, catch the side of the door and slam it shut! Fall to the floor, with your back securing the door, and whisper under an exhausted and exhilarated breath, “Oni wa soto. Fuku wa uchi.” Mission accomplished. Many Japanese on Setsubun prefer instead to have a more tangible target for Mamemaki, to make certain they hit their mark and ward off bad luck for the coming season. This is where a parent courageously puts on the Oni (demon) mask and takes one for the team. Armed with fortune beans and an eagerness to break cabin fever, both spouse and children let the beans fly at the fleeing demon, chanting, “Demons, out! Good Fortune, in!” Roasted soybeans actually serve two purposes on Setsubun. They are, of course, excellent for thwarting demons, but just as good for snacking on after all that demon-thwarting activity. After Mamemaki is successfully over, the Japanese household gathers and eats the same number of fortune beans as their age for good luck.

[redsamuraiii]

Japanese Idol, Nanami Asai wearing an Oni mask for Setsubun.

What is Setsubun?

Setsubun is celebrated on the last day of winter which usually falls on 2nd February. It’s to cleanse out the bad energy from the biting cold winter and welcome the spring season. Families will put roasted soybeans in asakemasu. 

Typically, the head of the household throws these beans outside the front door, chanting, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (“Demons get out! good luck come in!”). Sometimes, the father dresses like an oni (demon) and the children throw beans at him while yelling, “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!“. 

This bean throwing tradition is called mamemaki, or “scattering of beans.” It’s to symbolize purifying the home from evil spirits and misfortune lingering from the previous year.

Why Beans?

In Japanese folklore, beans are symbols of good luck. Soybeans are the second favorite (after rice, of course) in the Shinto tradition. Since soybeans are bigger and slightly more intimidating than rice, they became a favorite in the Setsubun tradition to ward off demons.

More info on Setsubun here.

[missmyloko]

February 2nd and 3rd, 2020: The annual Setsubun (節分) dances took place across Kyoto. Each year the gokagai sends a host of dancers to perform dedication dances that are then followed up by the ritual of bean tossing (Mamemaki). Traditionally beans are thrown out on Setsubun to drive away demons and to invite in good fortune. Each kagai was represented by the following dancers: Gion Kobu: Mamekinu (まめ衣), Mitsuki (美月), and Kohana (小花) Pontocho: Hidekano (秀華乃) and Hidemai (秀眞衣) Kamishichiken: Umeha (梅葉), Naokinu (尚絹), Umehina (梅ひな), Ichiaya (市彩), and Katsuki (勝貴) Miyagawa Cho: Toshinana (とし七菜), Toshinami (とし菜実), Kimimoe (君萌), and Fukuyuri (ふく友利) Gion Higashi: Masano (満彩野), Tomichie (富千英), Kanohisa (叶久), Kanochiyo (叶千代), Masanao (満彩尚), and Tomihoshi (富豊志) Images are courtesy of S Okuda [1] [2] [3], Kazuhiro715, Tomtombeat, Kyoto Camera Club, Koichi Kyoto Tour Guide, Sayaka426, Juni7952, and Masato Ky.

[fyeahygocardart]

Mamemaki

[iro-megane]

3rd of February is Setsubun in Japan

The 3rd of February is Setsubun in Japan. Evil masks and dried soy beans are sold in many supermarkets. There are three things people do on this day for good

[geisha-kai]

Setsubun 2018: maiko Ichikoma throwing lucky beans off the Kitano Tenmangu shrine by  321yusuke on Instagram

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